Thenrodeoutfromthosemenaverytallman，andtwowithhim，oneoneitherside，andhethrewbackthesalletfromhisface，andsaid：
　　“Wayfarer，allwehaveweaponsinourhands，andwesomanythatthouandthinewillbeinregardofusasthepipstotheapple。
　　Wherefore，yieldye！”QuothRalph：“UntowhomthenshallIyieldme？”
　　Saidtheother：“TothemenoftheKingofCheapingKnowe。”
　　ThenspakeRalph：“Whatwillyedowithuswhenweareyolden？
　　Shallwenotpayransomandgoourways？”“Yea。”saidthetallman，“andthisistheransom：thatyegiveupintomyhandsmydastardwhohathbewrayedme，andthewomanwhowendethinyourcompany。”
　　Ralphlaughed；forbythistimeheknewthevoiceoftheKing，yea，andthefaceofhimunderhissallet。
　　Sohecriedbackinanswer，andinsuchwiseasifthewordscameratherfromhisluckthanfromhisyouth：“Ho，SirKing！
　　bewarebeware！lestthoutremblewhenthouseestthebarebladeoftheFriendoftheWellmorethanthoutrembledsterst，whenthebladewashiddeninthesheathbeforethethroneofthinehall。”
　　ButtheKingcriedoutinaloudharshvoice。
　　“Thou，youngman，bewarethou！andtrynotthyluckovermuch。
　　Weareasmanyasthesetrees，andthoucanstnotprevailoverus。
　　Gothywaysfree，andleavemewhatthoucanstnothelpleaving。”
　　“Yea，fool。”criedRalph，“andwhatwiltthoudowiththesetwo？”
　　SaidtheKing：“ThetraitorIwillflay，andthewomanIwillbed。”
　　ScarcewerethewordsoutofhismouthereRalphgaveforthagreatcryanddrewhissword，setspurstohishorse，andgalloppedonuptheroadwithallhisbandathisbackfortheyhaddrawnanighamidstthistalk。
　　Butorevertheycameonthefoemen，theyheardagreatconfusedcryofonsetmingledwithaffright，andlo！theKingthrewuphisarms，andfellforwardonhishorse’sneckwithagreatarrowthroughhisthroat。
　　Ralphdraveonswordinhand，cryingout，“Home，hometoUpmeads！”
　　andanonwasamidstofthefoesmitingoneitherhand。
　　Hismenfollowed，shouting：“Ho，fortheFriendoftheWell！”
　　Andamongstthefoemen，whowereindeedverymany，washugedismay，sothattheymadebutasorrydefencebeforethebandofthewayfarers，whoknewnotwhattomakeofit，tilltheynotedthatarrowsandcasting-spearswerecomingoutofthewoodoneitherside，whichsmotenoneofthem，butmanyofthefoemen。
　　Shortwasthetale，forinafewminutestherewerenomenofthefoetogethersavethosethatwerefleeingdowntheroadtoCheapingKnowe。
　　Ralphwouldnotsufferhismentofollowthechase，forhewottednotwithwhomhemighthavetodealbesidestheKing’smen。
　　HedrewhismentogetherandlookedroundforUrsula，andsawthattheSagehadbroughtherupanighhim，andthereshesata-horseback，paleandpantingwiththefearofdeathandjoyofdeliverance。
　　NowRalphcriedoutfromhissaddleinaloudvoice，andsaid：
　　“Hoyeofthearrowsofthewood！yehavesavedmefrommyfoemen；
　　wherebeye，andwhatbeye？”Camealoudvoicefromoutofthewoodontherighthand：“Children，tellthewarriorwhosesonsyebe！”
　　Straightwaybrakeoutahugebellowingoneithersideoftheroad，asthoughthewoodwereallfullofgreatneat。
　　ThencriedoutRalph：“IfyebeofthekindredoftheBull，yewillbelikebemyfriendsratherthanmyfoes。OrhaveyeheardtellofRalphofUpmeads？
　　Nowletyourcaptaincomeforthandspeakwithme。”
　　Scarcewerethewordsoutofhismouthereamancameleapingforthfromoutthewood，andstoodbeforeRalphinthetwilightoftheboughs，andRalphnotedofhimthathewascladprettymuchliketoBullShockheadofpasttime，savethathehadagreatbull’sheadforahelmwhichafterwardsRalphfoundoutwasofironandleather
　　andagreatgoldringonhisarm。
　　ThenRalphthrusthisswordbackintothesheath，andhisfolkhandledtheirweaponspeaceably，whileRalphhailedthenew-comerasLordorDukeoftheBulls。
　　“Belike。”quoththesaidchieftain，“thouwouldstwishtoshowmesometoken，wherebywemaywotthatthouartthatFriendoftheWellandofourkinsmanconcerningwhomhesentusamessage。”
　　ThenRalphbethoughthimofthepouchwiththeknotofgrassthereinwhichBullShockheadhadgivenhimatGoldburg；
　　sohedrewitout，andgaveitintothehandofthechieftain，whonosoonercaughtaglimpsethereofthanhesaid：
　　“Verilyourbrother’shandhathmetthinewhenhegavetheethis。
　　Yetforsooth，nowthatIlookonthee，ImaysaythatscarcedidIneedtokentotellmethatthouwerttheveryman。
　　ForIcanseethee，thatthouartofgreathonourandworship，andthoudidstrideboldlyagainstthefoemenwhenthouknewestnotthatwehadwaylaidthywaylayers。
　　NowIwotthatthereisnoneedtoasktheewhetherthouwouldstgettheeoutofourmountainsbytheshortestroad，yetwiltthoumakeitlittlelonger，andsomewhatsafer，ifyewillsufferustoleadtheebywayofourdwelling。”
　　SoRalphyeasaidhisbiddingwithoutmorewords。
　　Astheyspakethustogethertheroadbothaboveandbelowwasbecomeblackwithweaponedmen，andsomeofRalph’sbandlookedononeanother，asthoughtheydoubtedtheirnewfriendssomewhat。
　　ButtheSageofSwevenhamspoketothemandbadethemfearnought。
　　“For。”saidhe，“sofaraswego，whoarenowtheirfriends，thereisnoguileinthesemen。”TheBullcaptainheardhimandsaid：
　　“Thousayestsooth，oldman；andIshalltelltheethatscarcehadabandlikethinecomesafethroughthemountains，savebygreatgoodluck，withouttheleaveofus；forthefoolwiththecrownthatlieththeredeadhadoflatedayssostirreduptheFolksoftheFellsthroughhisgrimnessandcrueltythatwehavebeenmindedtostopeverythingbiggerthanacur-dogthatmightseektopassbyus，foratleastsolongasyonderrascalshouldlive。
　　Butyebewelcome；sonowletustotheroad，forthedayweareth。”
　　Sothetribesmengatthemintoorder，andtheirDukewentontheleftsideofRalph，whileUrsularodeonhisrighthand。TheDukeandallhismenwereafoot，buttheywenteasilyandswiftly，aswolvestrot。
　　Asfortheslainofthewaylayers，ofwhomthereweresomethreescore，theBullcaptainwoulddonoughtbutletthemlieontheroad。
　　“For。”saidhe，“therebewolvesandlynxesenoughinthewood，andtheravensoftheuplands，andthekitesshallsoonscentthecarrion。
　　Theyshallhaveburialsoonenough。Neitherwillwemeddlewithit；
　　nay，notsomuchastohangthefelonKing’sheadatthysaddle-bow，lord。”
　　Bysunsettheywereoutofthewoodandonthesideofaroughfell，sotheywentnofurther，butlightedfiresattheedgeofthethicket，andmademerryroundaboutthem，singingtheirsongsconcerningthedeedsoftheirfolk，andjestingwithal，butnotfoully；andtheyroastedvenisonofhartandhindatthefires，andtheyhadwiththemwine，themorepartwhereoftheyhadfoundintheslainKing’scarriages，andtheymadegreatfeasttothewayfarers，andwereexceedingfainofthem；aftertheirfashion，whereasifamanweretheirfriendhecouldscarcebeenoughtheirfriend，andifheweretheirfoe，theycouldneverbefierceenoughwithhim。
　　TheyComeThroughtheMountainsIntothePlainOnthemorrowearlytheyallfaredontogether，andthereaftertheywentfortwodaysmoretilltheycameintoavalleyamidstofthemountainswhichwasfairandlovely，andthereinwasthedwellingortownofthisFolkoftheFells。
　　Itwasindeednostronghold，savethatitwasnoteasytofind，andthatthewaythitherwaswelldefensiblewerefoementotryit。Thehousesthereofwereartless，thechiefestofthemliketothegreatbarnofanabbeyinourland，theotherslowandsmall；butthepeople，bothmenandwomen，hauntedmostlythebighouse。Asforthefolk，theywereforthemorepartlikethosewhomtheyhadmetafore：
　　strongmen，butnothighofstature，black-haired，withblueorgreyeyes，cheerfulofcountenance，andofmanywords。
　　Theirwomenweremostlysomewhatmorethancomely，smiling，kindofspeech，butnotsufferingthecaressesofaliens。
　　Theysawnothrallsamongstthem；andwhenRalphaskedhereof，howthatmightbe，sincetheyweremen-catchers，theytoldhimthatwhentheytookmenandwomen，asofttheydid，theyalwayssoldthemforwhattheywouldbringtotheplain-dwellers；
　　orelseslewthem，orheldthemtoransom，butneverbroughtthemhometotheirstead。Howbeit，whentheytookchildren，aswhilesbefell，theysometimesbroughtthemhome，andmadethemverychildrenoftheirFolkwithmanyuncouthprayersandworshipoftheirGods，whowereindeed，astheydeemed，butforefathersoftheFolk。
　　NowRalph，heandhis，beingknownforfriends，thesewildmencouldnotmakeenoughofthem，andasitwere，compelledthemtoabidetherethreedays，feastingthem，andmakingthemallthecheertheymight。
　　Andtheyshowedthewayfarerstheirmannerofhunting，bothofthehartandtheboar，andofwildbullsalso。AtfirstRalphsomewhatloathedallthisthoughhekeptapleasantcountenancetowardhishost，forsorelyhedesiredthefieldsofUpmeadsandhisfather’shouse。
　　Butatlastwhenthehuntwasupinthemountains，andespeciallyofthewildbulls，theheartandthemightinhimsoarosethatheenforcedhimselftodowell，andthewildmenwonderedathisprowess，whereashewasuntriedinthismannerofsports，andtheydeemedhimoneoftheGods，andsaidthattheirkinsmanhaddonewelltogethimsogoodafriend。
　　BothUrsulaandtheSagewithheldthemfromthishunting，andUrsulaabodewiththewomen，whotoldhermuchoftheirwaysoflife，andstoriesofoldtime；frankandfreetheywere，andlovedhermuch，andshewasfainofsuchmanly-mindedwomenafterthesleightandliesofthepoorthrallsofUtterbol。
　　Onthefourthdaythewayfarersmadethemreadyanddeparted；
　　andthechiefoftheFolkwentwiththemwithachosenbandofweaponedmen，partlyfortheloveofhisguests，andpartlythathemightseetheGoldburgmen-at-armssafebacktotheroaduntotheplainandtheMidhouseoftheMountains，fortheywentnowbyotherways，whichmissedthesaidHouse。
　　Onthisjourneynaughtbefelltotellof，andtheyallcamedownsafeintotheplain。
　　TheretheGoldburgmentooktheirwage，andbiddingfarewell，turnedbackwiththewildmen，praisingRalphmuchforhisfranknessandopenhand。
　　Asforthewildmen，theyexceededintheirsorrowfortheparting，andmanyofthemweptandhowledasthoughtheyhadseenhimdiebeforetheirfaces。
　　Butallthatcametoanend，andpresentlytheircheerwasamended，andtheirmerryspeechandlaughtercamedownfromthepassuntothewayfarers’
　　earsaseachbandrodeitsway。
　　TheRoadsSunderAgainRalphandUrsula，withtheSageandMichael-a-dalewenttheirways，andallwassmoothwiththem，andtheysawbutfewfolk，andthosemildandlowly。
　　Atlast，ofanafternoon，theysawbeforethemafaroffthetowersandpinnaclesofWhitwall，andRalph’sheartrosewithinhim，sothathescarceknewhowtocontainhimself；butUrsulawasshyandsilent，andhercolourcameandwent，asthoughsomefearhadholdofher。
　　Nowtheytwowereridingonsomewhataheadoftheothers，soRalphturnedtoUrsula，andaskedwhatailedher。Shesmiledonhimandsaid：
　　“Asimplesickness。Iamdrawingnightothyhome，andIamashamed。
　　Beyondthemountains，whoknewwhatandwhenceIwas？Iwasfair，andforawomannotunvaliant，andthatwasenough。ButnowwhenIamcomingamongstthebaronagesandthelineages，whatshallIdotoholdupmyheadbeforethefoolsandthedastardsofthesehighkindreds？
　　Andthatallthemore，myknight，becausethouartchangedsinceyester-year，andsincewemetonthewant-wayoftheWoodPerilous，whenIbadetheerememberthatthouwertaKing’ssonandIayeoman’sdaughter；
　　forthenthouwertbutalad，high-bornandbeautiful，butsimplemaybe，anduntried；whereasnowthouartmeettositintheKaiser’sthroneandruletheworldfromtheHolyCity。”
　　Helaughedgailyandsaid：“What！isitallsosoonforgotten，ourdeedsbeyondtheMountains？Belikebecausewehadnominstreltorhymeitforus。Orisitallbutadream？andhasthelastpassofthemountainschangedallthatforus？Whatthen！hastthouneverbecomemybeloved，norlaininonebedwithme？
　　ThouwhomIlookedtodeliverfromtheshameandthetormentofUtterbol，neverdidstthoufreethyselfwithoutmyhelping，andmeetmeinthedarkwood，andleadmetotheSagewhoridethyonderbehindus！No，nordidstthouridefearlesswithme，leavingtheworldbehind；nordidstthoucomfortmewhenmyheartwentnightobreakinginthewilderness！NortheedidI
　　deliverasIsawtheerunningnakedfromthejawsofdeath。
　　Norwereweweddedinthewildernessfarfromourownfolk。
　　NordidstthoudelivermefromthevenomoftheDryTree。
　　Yeaverily，nordidwedrinktogetheroftheWateroftheWell！
　　ItisallbuttalesofSwevenham，abluevapourhangingonthemountainsyonder！Sobeitthen！Andhereweridetogether，deedless，amanandamaidofwhomnotalemaybetold。
　　Whatnextthen，andwhoshallsunderus？”
　　Therewithhedrewhisswordfromthesheath，andtosseditintotheair，andcaughtitbythehiltsasitcamedown，andhecriedout：
　　“Hearken，Ursula！BymyswordIswearit，thatwhenIcomehometothelittleland，ifmyfatherandmymotherandallmykindredfallnotdownbeforetheeandworshipthee，thenwillIbeamanwithoutkindred，andIwillturnmybackonthelandIlove，andtheHousewhereinIwasborn，andwillwinfortheeandmeanewkindredthatalltheworldshalltellof。
　　SohelpmeSaintNicholas，andallHallows，andtheMotherofGod！”
　　Shelookedonhimwithexceedinglove，andsaid：“Ah，beloved，howfairthouart！IsitnotasIsaid，yea，andmore，thatnowlieththeworldatthyfeet，ifthouwiltstooptopickitup？
　　Believeme，sweet，allfolkshallseethisasIseeit，andshalljudgebetwixttheeandme，anddeemmenaught。”